Tom Robinson's Progress

During Tom Robinson’s trial, the strong prejudice of Maycomb County and the negative effects of its social stratification were clearly demonstrated. Whilst Tom Robinson is innocent of the crime of rape, he gave the Caucasians more reason to convict him on the basis of daring to feel sorry for a Caucasian - it is not expected that a negro (considered as being a part of the lowest class of society, event lower than the ‘white trash’) could feel sorry for a Caucasian and the Caucasians could not accept such a presumption.

Because the Ewells are at the bottom of the class structure along with the African Americans, and are constantly sneered and despised by their higher-ranking white peers, Bob Ewell tries to seem better than his current situation of utter poverty by trying to appear as morally superior to Tom Robinson, an African American. In accusing Tom Robinson, he sees what he believes is a way for advancement in society. Not only does he i) clear his daughter of the ‘crime’ she has committed of tempting a black man, he also ii) elevates his societal status. In his mind, the town should think him a hero for saving Maycomb's white

Racism was a normal thing in Maycomb County, but out of the entire county Bob Ewell was the worst. “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella.” (Lee 231) Bob Ewell refers to Tom Robinson as (a) “black nigger” on the witness stand in front of everyone. Clearly, he doesn’t care about discriminating Tom Robinson right in front of his face and also in front of the people that are in the courtroom. “As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life…” (Lee 295). If Bob Ewell had put himself in Tom’s shoes, he would have seen how hard of a life it is for African Americans. He is one who will “cheat black men everyday of (his) life”, because of his ignorance. (Lee 295) Being racist not only hurts the victim, but ruins your reputation and your life.

First of all, Tom Robinson’s family has been greatly affected by the case. After being convicted, in addition to being sent away to jail, his wife Helen also faces discrimination. Jem asks Calpurnia, “I know Tom Robinson’s in jail an’ he’s done somethin’ awful, but why won’t folks hire Helen?” She responds with “It’s because of what folks say Tom’s done,[...]Folks aren’t anxious to—to have anything to do with any of his family”(chap.12). Racism being the reason that Tom goes to jail, and also the reason that no one will hire Helen anymore, proving how despair to the community through racism. Because of this prejudice, an innocent family becomes social outcasts within the town, which would be detrimental because in a small town like Maycomb, people need to stick together to be able to live a good life. Another way in which racism victimizes someone, when Bob Ewell spits on Atticus. He was leaving the post office: “Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat

Race is the dominant cause of inequality in To Kill A Mockingbird, thus Maycomb’s views on race heavily influence every aspect of life. Although racial inequality is clearly illustrated in the in the injustice, prejudice, discrimination and antagonism surrounding the Tom Robinson trial, it is also shown more subtly throughout the novel. In chapter 25 Atticus Finch is quoted disclosing that the corrupt justice system is a direct cause of a racist society. “In our courts, when it's a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Pg 295). To emphasize, on the same occasion Atticus attempts to explain to his children how widely spread racism is, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men everyday of your life”

We can see this has happened in Maycomb as the Ewell’s, who are lower class and generally unlikable people, are able to manipulate a bad situation by blaming a black man, the only people that are lower than them. Also, the trial of Tom shows the pre-conceived ideas of Maycomb on show. Even when presented with the most obvious evidence, the jury still convicted Tom guilty of all charges. The jury shows here that the pre-conceived ideas about black people and the lack of knowledge of other’s opinions apart from their own biases them to thinking Tom is guilty anyway, without taking into account he evidence.

To begin, "The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box" (Lee 224). Tom Robisnon becomes a victim of racism when he is wrongly convicted. Tom is wrongly convicted of raping Mayella Ewell because of the color of his skin. Jury members only convict Tom because he is black, not because of the evidence presented in the trial. Secondly, "If I hear one more peep outa my girl Helen about not bein able to walk this road I'll have you in jail before sundown" (Lee 253). This is important because Mr. Ewell harasses her on her way to work for Mr. Deas, he does not even let her walk in front of his house, he even threatens her to not go to work. This shows that Helen has had a hard time finding work because she is associated with Tom. If Tom had not been wrongly accused of raping Mayella, then Helen would not face the harsh discrimination from the Maycomb community. All in all, Helen and Tom Robinson have a really hard time because of the effects of racism on them.

When Tom Robinson admitted that he helped Mayella Ewell with odd jobs around her house because he felt sorry for her, he was taken negatively by the jury and spectators at court, who could not believe that a black man could ever feel sorry for a white woman. Mr. Gilmer, Bob Ewell’s lawyer, even said incredulously, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” (Lee 264). The people of Maycomb could not believe that a Tom Robinson would go out of his way to help a white woman for free, as they all had a negative picture of black men in their mind that they deemed absolute. By offering to help Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson defied the Jim Crow laws set in place by acting like, he, a black man, was above Mayella, a white woman.

The Maycomb jury accused Tom Robinson guilty of rape of Mayella Ewell, not because they truly thought he was guilty; he was wrongfully convicted because of our town’s long time “honor code” of our society. Our “honor code” is nothing but a meaningless, unbroken rule saying that all whites are infallible, while all negroes are immoral and can’t be trusted around anyone. If a white person were to break this “code”, that person would be considered an outcast in our town. Of course, as I’ve said before, some whites and negroes are immoral and can’t be trusted around anyone. Take the Ewells, for example. Maycomb despises them, and barely keeps them isolated from the rest of town. They represent Maycomb’s worst side, but their word is still taken over a black man’s word, simply because they’re white. None of the jury members wanted to risk their own reputations and be

As the first day considering the Tom Robinson case ends, multiple citizens of Maycomb were asked their opinion. Many white men of the county, has expressed that Tom Robinson should be punished and that Bob Ewell, the defendants father, is telling the truth. The white community despises Tom Robinson’s attorney, Atticus Finch. Although Atticus is very well respected, a single case degraded his social status and was described as a “Nigger Lover.” The white community strongly agrees that Tom is guilty of abusing and raping Mayella, even after knowing that Mayella was most likely abused by a left hander man, which his father, Bob is, instead of Tom Robinson who has a less coordinated and functional left hand. “He deserves the death penalty, his

The trial of Tom Robinson began a few months ago when he was accused of the rape of Mayella Ewell.

The racist of Maycomb County treated Negroes like dirt beneath their feet. They accused every Negro of lying, cheating, and stealing. Tom Robinson had a genuine heart and dark skin, but the white people of Maycomb overlooked his heart and stereotyped him. Later, they accused Tom Robison for raping Mayella Ewell. Sadly, the jury of white men charged Tom Robison guilty, and that later resulted in his death.

Division in the town is also evident when the men in the lynch mob tries to kill Robinson. The men in the lynch mob are racist, and trying to kill Tom to keep him from going to the trial. This divides the community because it shows if that the white members of the community see the negroes as nothing, just expendable people that they can do whatever they want with. The white community thinks of them so lowly that a negros life means absolutely nothing to them. They never stopped to think that Robinson was a man just like them, a father, and a husband the only difference was his skin colour.

Although a lot of people thought that Tom Robinson was guilty of raping Mayella, there was substantial evidence that shows that he clearly was not guilty of the crime he was accused of. Tom Robinson was accused wrongly of a crime he didn't commit solely because he was a black man. Tom being black in the 1930’s meant that no matter what he said or what evidence proved, he still would be accused of the crime he didn't commit because of his race.

On May 16th, Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell,19, has been convicted with rape charges. The case took place at the local Maycomb county courthouse, where all the people from the county, both black and white, had come to watch the riveting case. The trial ended up in the favour of the Ewells.